Author's note: Hope you readers out there are enjoying reading this. Heh, I guess I would judge this as the best bit of fiction I've written to date. I don't really know if this is getting boring at times or not. Any input would be nice in case anything needs to be improved.
A hooded figure stood atop the low building facing the Board Laid Bare. He smiled in satisfaction as he watched the two young lovers laugh and play around in their suite.
"Ah, everything is falling into place nicely."
"What are you doing here you old fool? The clan is worried about you!"
The figure turned around swiftly as he looked at the displeased woman standing behind him. The woman didn't seem to be bothered at all by the rain as she stared daggers at him.
"Daughter, what are you doing here? Do you not have children you should be watching over?"
"I have not forgotten about them father. The real question is what are you doing here?"
The figure turned and pointed in the direction of the Inn. "Look in that window there. Who do you see?"
The woman stared hard at the two figures and gasped in surprise. "That's my nephew Caldor! Who is that woman he is with? I thought he was here helping not getting familiar with women."
"He has helped. He and his companion are just taking a little break until they are needed again. In any case that woman there, Sharwyn, is the very important piece that I was telling you about."
She stared at the two for a moment, finally smiling. "I see...that's what you have been doing here. Playing matchmaker again hmm."
The man, Jinkej, stared at his offspring indignantly. "What nonsense are you speaking? Caldor happened to do all of this on his own. I only helped the girl make up her mind a little when she was in doubt."
"Ah I see. Well since your crusade is done you should come with me back to the clan. Your son is having a fit wondering where you are."
"Mm...fine then let us go. That son of mine is quite a nag. He must have gotten it from his mother." Jinkej tossed the heavy cloak away and stretched out his wings. His daughter jumped off the roof and soared high into the sky with her father in tow.
Oleff smiled brightly as he waved Caldor and Sharwyn over. "Ah! I'm glad you both made it. Everyone is inside the ritual chamber waiting for you. Each person here at the Hall would like to thank you for everything you two have done for the city."
Oleff bowed before them and stepped aside allowing them to head into the ritual chamber.
Aribeth and Fenthick waved and ran up to greet them. "Right on time. We're almost ready to begin. Lord Nasher would like to congratulate you two on a job well done."
Desther strolled up to them, eyeing each person with barely contained disdain. "Well paladin, do you now believe that my Helmites and I are not the enemy?"
"Of course not. There is still one act left in the play, plenty of time for your players to perform their final act..." Caldor drew his sword a little from his sheath, "But do not think that I will be so foolish as to let you get away with it."
Desther smirked, "Think whatever you want paladin. You will be proven a fool eventually."
Caldor frowned at him and sheathed his sword. "We shall see." He brushed past Desther and walked over to where Lord Nasher was sitting.
Sharwyn glared at Desther in disgust before following Caldor to Nasher's side.
Aribeth rolled her eyes at him, "I will be glad when this is over with so you and your group can finally leave my city."
He merely smirked at her as she walked off.
Fenthick walked around Desther and stood in front him, "Really nice. Do you have to treat everyone in such a disrespectful manner?"
"Well they aren't exactly treating with much respect at the moment either. Especially that paladin."
"He has his reasons. You didn't make a very good first impression."
"There is no time for this, we have a cure to make." Desther turned curtly and walked to his designated position in the center of the chamber.
Fenthick frowned and walked to the opposite side. 'I can't believe this.'
Caldor bowed before Lord Nasher respectfully.
"So you are the mighty paladin I've heard so much about." Nasher shook Caldor's hand heartily. "You certainly look the part."
He nodded in Desther's direction and centered his focus again on the paladin. "I see that you and the Watchknight don't get along very well. Difference of opinion?"
"More like a difference of religion." Caldor snorted as he glanced at Desther. "He isn't who he says he is."
Nasher looked up at the man and studied the expression on his face. It was a mix of a calm and barely checked fury. Like a cat ready to pounce on its pray, Caldor silently watched Desther. Waiting.
"Hmmm...begin." Nasher ordered as his attention focused back to the task at hand.
The priests raised their arms in the air and began chanting.
Caldor watched Desther the whole time, barely moving. Occasionally his eyes flicked around the room waiting for someone to appear and halt the ritual.
Sharwyn looked up at him. "Caldor..."
"Yes." He glanced down at her.
"Something is going to happen, isn't there?" She asked quietly.
"Something always does."
With the final explosion of light, the cure was at last done and the priests smiled and shook each other's hands.
"We finally have the cure!" Fenthick said excitedly as he smiled at Aribeth.
"You're right Fenthick but...I have the cure." Desther barely masked his glee as he ran forward and swiped the cure.
"I knew it!" Caldor unsheathed his sword as he rushed toward the cleric, preparing to separate his head from his neck.
"Now my brethren!" Four of the false Helmites appeared in the room and began attacking the priests.
"As for you!" Desther turned and held his hand out towards Caldor. He caught the paladin in a hold spell and threw him back forcefully towards the throne.
Nasher barely managed to jump out of his throne as Caldor went straight through it and into the wall. He made a sickening crunch sound as he flew into the wall and fell down to the ground. Crumbled chunks of brick fell around him.
"Caldor!" Sharwyn rushed to his prone form and knelt down next to him. She looked back at Desther angrily and threw a fireball at him. He easily dodged it and summoned a portal. "Hah this city will die fools!" He yelled insanely as he dived into the portal.
"No!" Fenthick followed him and before he could be stopped, jumped in after him.
Aribeth dived towards the portal and began concentrating hard as it began to close.
Guards rushed into the room and dispatched the traitors then ran to their Lord's side.
"One of you priests get over here and heal Caldor! He has to go after those traitors. You, get the Captain of the Guard and any extra guards out there who aren't doing anything at the moment."
Nasher looked down at the paladin and knelt next to him. "He is still alive right?" He asked Sharwyn.
She nodded and tried rolling him over onto his back. Caldor howled in pain and tried to wave her away. "Agh...damn it! I'm...going to kill...that rat bastard!" He tried to sit up but fell back down. His right arm and left wrist were broken.
"Don't move you'll just make it worse."
"My back..."He whispered.
A cleric rushed over to Caldor and knelt down to check his injuries. "Poor man...almost every bone in his body has been broken or fractured. Greater Restoration should do the trick friend. Hold still now."
"Do I look like I can move?" Caldor grumbled as the cleric held his hand over him.
The cleric chanted in a low voice and his hand glowed a soft blue light as Caldor's skeleton began to mend. The paladin groaned as he flexed his left hand.
Once the healing was done Caldor picked himself up off ground and growled in a low voice, "Where... is he?"
Sharwyn pointed to the portal that Aribeth was holding open.
Caldor picked up his sword and jumped into the portal. He barely heard Aribeth as he went through. "...Fenthick."
Sharwyn rushed up to Aribeth and looked at her friend.
"Go on! Desther must be stopped...I can't believe I didn't see this coming."
"Caldor did..."
Aribeth shook her head and sighed, "Watch out for those two. I'll try to explain Fenthick's actions to those who ask but there isn't much hope. Everyone will call him traitor alongside with Desther."
"Caldor won't allow Fenthick to be taken down with that bastard." Sharwyn jumped into the portal leaving Aribeth alone.
Within a few minutes of seeming to fall forever, Sharwyn found herself standing at the edge of a river before a broken wooden bridge. She looked around and noticed a two-story house not too far away. As she ran towards it, she heard two men talking from the rear of the building.
"Look...I'm searching for an older looking human, grey hair, and the ugliest face you've ever seen in Watchknight attire."
"Helmite? Yes there are plenty of them around here. We're not too far away from Helm's Hold you know."
"Yes I know that but I want to know if you've seen the guy I'm talking about."
"The only person that passed by here was good man Desther. This elven fellow was running after him yelling for him to stop and bring back the cure or something like that."
"Yes! That's who I'm looking for. Which way did he go?"
"Ah good man Desther. Nice fellow. As he and his fellows were leaving for Neverwinter he told me to destroy this bridge so that none of the disease carriers could infect us."
Caldor stared at the man in disbelief, his jaw slightly ajar. He clenched his fist and rubbed his temple in irritation. "Okay let's try this again. Where is DESTHER?"
The small man quaked in fear and backed away from him, "N...no need ta yell there."
Sharwyn placed a hand on Caldor's shoulder and he backed down from the man.
"Sorry about that sir. He's just a little on edge today. But please, it is really important that you tell us where Desther went. He has something very important that belongs to the city of Neverwinter."
"Well he headed back that way through that opening in the fores-"
"Thanks!" Sharwyn grabbed Caldor by the hand and they both ran towards the gap. Once they reached the glade they noticed that a few undead were milling about the area.
Once the undead noticed that they were coming, ragged war cries rattled from what was left of their throats and they rushed towards them with weapons raised.
Caldor glared at the undead and glanced at Sharwyn, "Just ignore them."
Sharwyn nodded and dodged out of the way as the zombie warrior swung at her with its mace. She twisted around and tossed a hard stone at the zombie's temple before disappearing into the nearby cave.
Caldor ran around the skeleton warrior, grabbing it by the arm and spinning it around. He jumped into the air and kicked the skeletons head off and into the zombie. The monster fell backwards over a thick tree root and over a low cliff. The skeleton stumbled around blindly before running into a tree and falling over.
The paladin didn't wait for the two creatures to attempt to come after him and ran into the cave after Sharwyn.
"Looks like we are in a prison." Sharwyn told him as he walked up next to her.
"Mm..." Caldor looked around the dungeon slowly. When he heard a small whimper he peeked behind a pile of boxes and pulled up a small boy by his collar.
"Hello there little man."
The boy uncovered his eyes and looked up at Caldor. He stared at him then wiped his eyes, smiling once he looked at him again.
"Caldor!" The boy wriggled out of his grasp and hugged him, "Ah! I'm so glad you are back! Everything has gone insane ever since that Desther guy and his crew showed up. They killed everyone! Th...they... killed my dad."
Caldor patted the boy's head and sighed, "I'm sorry to hear that...your father was a good man..." He looked over at Sharwyn then knelt down in front of the boy.
"Are you sure everyone is dead? Did no one survive?"
The boy wiped his eyes and looked at him, "Dumal is still alive. They locked him up down here."
"Alright...you just stay here and hide. I have to find Dumal." The boy nodded and ran behind the boxes again.
Caldor stood up and turned towards the prison cells. "Come on. We have to find him."
After a few minutes of wading through the waves of zombies, they soon came upon an occupied cell.
"Dumal!" Caldor said as he rushed up to the cell and grabbed the bars.
"Ah Caldor! Helm be praised!"
"Dumal how could you let this happen?"
"I don't know! They were quite convincing. They must have done thorough research. Ugh, if you had been here this would never have happened. You do not seem to get excited enough about festivities to be unperceptive."
"That's true you know." Sharwyn alleged.
Caldor glanced at her curiously, "Uh huh."
"Yes, anyway. Go back out to the front gates. You should be able to recruit some support from the guardians." Caldor nodded and inspected the gates; "We need to get you out of here first."
"No don't worry about me! You have to get Desther!"
Sharwyn pushed Caldor out of the way and pulled out some lock picks. After fiddling with the gates for a few seconds the door swung open and she turned to Caldor.
"Alright, see you later Dumal."
The pair ran through the dungeon again and out of the cave all the way to the north where the front gate was located.
After a brief conversation with a shadowy female, Caldor opened the gate and stared at the courtyard in shock. Corpses littered the whole area. It had been a massacre. Caldor swallowed hard and rubbed his temple with his thumb.
"Caldor?" Sharwyn whispered as she rubbed his back.
"I'm fine..." He looked around the courtyard and noticed a small glimmer on a corpse not too far from where they were standing. Caldor walked over to the corpse and knelt down next to it. He saw a small-etched stone resting on the ground and picked it up. Caldor stared at the corpse a moment then gently turned it over.
He quickly backed away from the corpse on his hands and feet, staring at it in shock. It was his friend Tomas. It looked like he had been beaten before he was gutted. His organs were smashed against his chest and were shriveled. He had been dead for a good while.
He stared at the body, shaking his head slowly. "Not like this... Not like this."
Caldor pinched the top of his nose, still shaking his head. He shuddered and swallowed back a sob. Sharwyn watched him and knelt down next to him when she saw a tear escape from under his fingers.
"Oh gods, he was a friend of yours wasn't he?"
Caldor covered his face and gritted his teeth hard.
He stood up on his feet unsteadily and drew his sword, "He was my best friend!"
Caldor spun around and ran towards the front door.
Zombies and skeletons stood upright as he approached and growled at him. His sword arm trembled as he stared the monsters down. Without warning he raised his arms into the air and let out an enraged yell. Holy light circled around him and engulfed the whole area.
Sharwyn shielded her eyes from the light, trying her best to catch a glimpse of him from under her arm.
As the light receded, she caught sight of him. Any of the undead that hadn't died instantly stumbled around in terror, trying their best to avoid Caldor as he chased them around reducing them to rotting meat and bones.
He kicked a final zombie in the back then ran it through. Lifting the sword up he swung it around, tossing the zombie away from him. Caldor let his sword fall a little and hunched over it.
Sharwyn ran up and stooped in front of him.
"I'm going to kill them Sharwyn. They will all pay for this. I'll die before I let them get away with this."
"Send them to the hells where they belong." She whispered.
Caldor closed his eyes and straightened up. He kicked the front door open and tossed the etched-stone onto the stone hand alter. The guardians instantly came to life and turned to look at him. "Kill the intruders." He growled.
The guardians clanked in unison and vanished through the door leading to the rest of the Hold.
Caldor chased after them with his sword ready, prepared to massacre any false Helmite that stood in his path.
Sharwyn sighed and followed him, 'This is his fight...I should just stay out of the way.'
She could hear the sounds of battle in the distance. Caldor and the guardians were taking out what was left of Desther's party quickly. The men were putting up a pretty good fight but Caldor came at them with such ferocity, that the clerics barely had enough time to fire off their spells at him.
Caldor directed the four guardians to different rooms ordering them to kill any hostiles they encountered.
The last cult member that Caldor found received the bulk of his rage.
Sharwyn turned the corner into the room he was in slowly and watched as he fought the cleric. The man was short but strongly built. He looked like the type of man that could easily instill fear in anyone that angered him.
In the presence of Caldor, however, the tables were turned and he tried everything he could to avoid the paladin.
"No please! Mercy!" The man covered his bloody nose and held his arm up defensively as he huddled back in a corner.
Caldor grabbed the man by the collar roughly and hoisted him up against the wall, "MERCY? You dare ask for mercy? Were you merciful to my friend when you gutted him like a pig?" Caldor tossed the man away from him and followed his form as he slid across the bloody floor. The man scrambled to his feet and grabbed a mace off the floor.
"How would you know if I killed whoever you're talking about? You have no proof?" The man screamed at him as he held the weapon out in front of him in a defensive manner.
Caldor held up a gold studded dagger and curled his lip in contempt, "This is my proof right here. I gave this to Tomas as a gift. He never let it out of his sight or off his person. And here I find it in your possession." He kicked the man hard in the stomach, sending him flying into a nearby desk. Caldor jumped onto the man and began beating him in the face, "You'll suffer for what you did to him!"
"Caldor!" Sharwyn ran up to him and grabbed him by his neck, pulling him back. He grabbed her arm and pushed her away then continued beating the man. After a while the man stopped moving and lay still.
"Caldor he's dead! Stop!" Sharwyn ran up to him again and this time Caldor allowed himself to be pulled away. She pushed him away from the corpse and up against a wall.
"What is wrong with you? How could you do such...a...thing?" She stopped yelling at him once she noticed the tears fall down his cheeks. He looked down at the floor and gritted his teeth.
"Just..." He wiped the tears away from his face and walked around her, into the small summoning chamber across the hall.
Sharwyn frowned and followed him into the room. "Caldor just talk to me...." She looked up at the devil he was staring at and sighed. 'Nice.'
"Please tell me it can't move." She said flatly.
"It can't move." He replied solemnly. Caldor turned on his heel and walked into a small room behind him. He soon came out again holding a blue leather bound book with the symbol of Helm imprinted on the cover.
He walked up to the stone alter and picked up the red book labeled the Black Grimoire that was already resting on it.
"Mortal what are you doing?" The Chaohinon growled at him.
Caldor glared up at the devil and flipped a few pages to find what he was looking for. Once he was on the correct page he began chanting the words.
The Chaohinon roared in anger as a portal opened beneath him and black tendrils grabbed its legs and dragged it down to the hells. "YOU WILL PAY FOR THIS MORTAL! I WILL MAKE YOU SUFFER! YOUR CHILDREN WILL SUFFER! YOUR CHILDREN'S CHILDREN WILL SUFFER! YOU'RE FAMILY SHALL FEEL MY WRATH! ARGH!" It howled as it disappeared along with the portal.
"Um hm... sure..." Caldor grumbled as he opened up the Book of Helm. He flipped through the book and began chanting again. A brilliant blue light filtered through the stained glass window in the ceiling of the room and a faint form began to appear where the demon once stood. The figure finally took shape as the Hold's Guardian Spirit.
Caldor walked around the stone alter and knelt down before the spirit.
"Thank you for banishing the demon and summoning me back. The false Helmites had summoned the devil here for some wicked purpose but thanks to you they will be unable to finish. For your devotion to Helm I will grant you one of three gifts. A ring, a bow, or I can increase your strength to help you on your quest."
With his head still bowed he answered, "I will take the ring..."
The spirit nodded and a small silver ring appeared on the ground in front of him. He looked it over and recognized it as a ring of elemental resistance.
"I have another gift for you brave paladin." The spirit leaned down and handed a bracer to him. "You will find it to be quite useful in your impending battle."
"Thank you..." He said quietly as he took the bracer and slipped it onto his wrist without looking up.
The spirit placed a gauntleted hand on Caldor's shoulder, "Do not despair young one. There is still much you must do. Make your friend proud." Caldor's shoulders shook as he nodded.
The spirit stood up and backed away from him, slowly fading away.
Sharwyn stared at where the Guardian spirit once was then walked up to Caldor. She placed her hand on his shoulder and squeezed it gently. Caldor picked the ring up and reached up to grasp her hand. He placed the ring on her finger then let his hand fall back.
Sharwyn got down on her knees and wrapped her arms around him comfortingly.
"They killed everyone I knew...even the hopeful young boys that were here... barely beginning the process of becoming Watchers. I can't believe this...how could this have happened?" He asked quietly.
"They must have had a reason for doing this."
"There is no excuse!" He glared at her before letting his expression fall back to a neutral state and staring once again at the ground. "A senseless massacre...I'll squeeze the life out of Desther slowly."
"You have to take him back to Neverwinter Caldor."
Caldor sighed angrily, "Fine but he will be a bloody mess when I do bring him back."
Sharwyn kissed the top of his right ear and the back of his neck before resting her head on him. Caldor rubbed her arms and sighed.
"I'll never let something like this happen to you...ever. I will die before I'd let an atrocity like this be repeated."
"I know Caldor. Come on...we have to find Desther." Sharwyn stood up and backed away from the paladin.
He sighed and stood up with her, picking his sword up from off the ground.
Caldor nodded and they both ran outside then up the nearby stairs. The staircase twisted around up the tower leading them to a small landing. The room was empty except for a few scattered corpses and burn marks on the floors and walls.
Sharwyn noticed a small form huddled in the corner and she ran over to him.
"Fenthick...what happened."
The elf lifted his head up and wiped his bleeding nose, "Well I caught up with him. Then he beat me before he ran upstairs screaming maniacally about his time not being up or some such nonsense. I never was much of a hand to hand guy."
Sharwyn took a bit of linen cloth out of a med kit and began to dab at his nose a bit.
"Why have you not healed yourself yet?" Caldor asked as he sat down against the wall next to him.
"No more." Fenthick sighed and gingerly touched his blackened eye, "Even if I did, I wouldn't heal myself. I deserve this for heeding that deceitful fiend."
Caldor gritted his teeth and shook his head, "It wasn't your fault my friend. You were only trying to help the citizens and tried to look past the bastard in him hoping that he actually cared."
"I agree. In any case, all of us are to blame for not listening to Caldor when he told us otherwise. We all should have seen past it..."
Fenthick waved Sharwyn away and smiled weakly, "Go on...you have to stop him before he tries to destroy the cure."
Caldor stood up and walked toward the small set of stairs leading to a door. "He will pay for what he is done...to you...to Neverwinter...and especially to the Hold."
Sharwyn stood up and followed him.
They climbed the stairs slowly, not knowing what Desther might have left behind him to deter intruders.
Once Caldor reached the top of the stairs, he peeked around the wall and searched the hall for any movement.
"I hear low moaning...but I don't see anything." Sharwyn whispered as she looked around.
Caldor pointed to a door not far ahead then stepped out into the hall. He then turned and noticed another door. A third was at the end of the side hall.
"These two rooms here...that is most likely where the moaning is coming from." He ignored the two doors and instead walked to the end door in the short hall.
Pressing his ear against the door he listened to the subtle shuffling of feet just on the other side. He could also hear a voice. It was Desther.
"We've found our quarry." He unsheathed his door and backed away from the door. The paladin nodded at Sharwyn and he kicked the door down, knocking whatever was guarding it over.
The undead in the room stopped all movement to stare at the paladin; ready to attack once their master gave the order.
Desther glared at Caldor in shock then burst into maniacal laughter.
"I was wondering if my little spell had killed you paladin. You are stronger than I had thought. It matters not...I will kill you now." He noticed Sharwyn behind Caldor and grinned.
"Of course, it will have to be slow and painful. Ravaging your woman before your eyes before killing you would be most fitting."
It was Caldor's turn to smirk, "You really are thicker than I had thought. Sharwyn would kill you. If you want to die choking on your own hands, then just try it."
Desther frowned and spat on the ground in front of the paladin. "I do not have time to waste on such foolish things! I will not be abandoned and you... you will die for what you have done!"
Desther began casting his spells and the undead jumped at Caldor. He turned and slashed at the waist of an oncoming zombie. Caldor ducked allowing Sharwyn to jump over him and take off the head of an attacking skeleton warrior. Caldor turned to run a mummy through the chest. He pulled the sword up and split the creature's torso and head in half then kicked it away.
Sharwyn dodged the swing of a great sword wielded by a skeleton chieftain that Desther had just summoned. She backed away and twisted swiftly as the skeleton brought its weapon down on her again. The skeleton managed to nick her cheek and she barely dodged it again as it brought the sword up again in a sweeping manner. Sharwyn scrambled to the side and blocked the sword and kicked the skeleton in the spinal column. It bent backward to absorb the blow and clawed at her face, leaving three deep gashes on her left cheek.
She growled at the skeleton and brought one side of her sword around hitting the skeleton's shoulder then turned to sweep the other side up in a diagonal manner and knocked its head off its shoulders.
Caldor kicked the rest of the skeleton's body into the wall and grinned as it shattered.
"Nice work there princess." He quipped.
"Pfft."
Desther glared at the two of them and began chanting a spell. Caldor recognized the words and pushed Sharwyn away as the Flame strike hit him. Sharwyn watched as he was hit by the spell and attempt to shield himself by holding his arm up.
"Caldor!"
He still held the same position and pushed against the flames as best as he could.
She looked to his arm and noticed that the bracer he had was absorbing the spell. It still didn't seem that it would be enough so she ran towards Desther with her weapon raised and slashed at him.
Desther laughed, as her attack had no affect, and pushed her away with a blast of energy. She hit the wall pretty hard but not enough to render her unconscious. Sharwyn stood up and glared at him then turned her attention to the four flesh golems surrounding him.
She stared at them grimly then attacked one. It was pretty weak and went down easily.
Desther flinched a bit but continued trying to crush Caldor with his spell.
Seeing that he was no longer paying attention to her, Sharwyn proceeded to kill the remaining golems.
Once they were dead Desther stopped his attack and stared at her wildly, "You! You...I'll kill you first."
He ran at her with his mace, a wild look in his eyes. Sharwyn looked to Caldor who stood up and ran in front of her and blocked Desther's attack. With a flick of the wrist he quickly disarmed Desther then punched him in the mouth.
The cleric backed away clutching his mouth and looked around for another weapon. Caldor jumped at him and brought his elbow down on the man's neck then kicked him once he fell over. Abandoning his sword to the ground, he lifted Desther and hit him again before shaking him fiercely.
"Where is the cure?" He roared.
Desther spat in his face resulting in a dislocated jaw and fractured skull.
"Don't make me ask again." Caldor growled.
"I have your...p...precious cure!" Desther managed to choke out. He pulled the cure out and handed it to him.
"Good...you just saved yourself one hell of a beating." Caldor threw him to the ground and held him down with his foot.
"Love, can you find me some rope or something of that manner?"
Sharwyn nodded and disappeared into one of the side rooms.
Caldor glared at the cleric and ground his boot into the man's chest making him squeal.
Sharwyn soon came back with a coil of rope and handed it to him. Caldor knelt down and held Desther to the floor with his knee then proceeded to tie his hands behind his back. He then lifted him up and tied his legs together loosely enabling him to walk but preventing him from trying to run away. The rest of the rope was used to tie around his neck and create a short lead.
Sharwyn walked up to Desther and used a dirty rag to gag him with then slapped his cheek for good measure.
He glared at her making her smirk.
"Alright...we caught him...I'm amazed I didn't beat him into an unrecognizable heap." Caldor thought aloud.
Sharwyn sighed, resting her hands on her hips, "We better get him back to Neverwinter."
Caldor nodded and kicked Desther in the rear to get him to start moving.
Fenthick watched them curiously as they came down the stairs with Desther restrained.
Caldor smiled a little at his friend and beckoned him over. The elf got up off the ground and walked over to them.
Caldor threw his arm over Fenthick's shoulders and grinned, "We have the cure now so you don't have to worry anymore."
"Thanks to you the city is saved."
"Hmm, you forget I've always had someone to help me. I did not do this alone."
"Yes...you and Lady Sharwyn are an excellent team."
Caldor nodded and looked over at the bard. She smiled and wrapped her arm around him.
Desther rolled his eyes and grumbled something indiscernible resulting in a smack to the back of his skull.
Once they reached the foyer of the Hold, they all caught sight of Dumal. The four guardians stood around him as he greeted them.
"Thank you once again for your help Caldor. I have sent word for help and have also found some Watchers that managed to survive the attack."
Caldor nodded, "That is good to know."
Dumal sighed and stared up at the paladin, "Such a tragedy...we lost so many good souls. I saw Tomas...it is...terrible." He stared down at the ground then looked back up at Caldor.
"He would be proud to know that you saved the Hold from total destruction as does Helm."
Caldor nodded slowly then nudged Desther forward. "I will be back to help bury the dead if it is possible." He said as he walked through the doors.
Aribeth and a squad of guards awaited them on the other side of the Hold's gates.
"Caldor! Sharwyn...Fenthick...I see you've caught the traitor."
Caldor nodded and a couple of the guards took Desther's leash and led him back to the others. He was untied and chain cuffs were put on his wrists.
Fenthick stared at Aribeth then down at the ground, "I'm so sorry."
Aribeth sighed then walked up to him, "It was not your fault. I would say that we are all to blame for not realizing what Desther really was. Well everyone except Caldor." She pulled him into a tight hug then kissed his cheek.
Caldor yawned and scratched his head before looking back at the Hold and sighing. "We need to get back to Neverwinter and get this cure distributed. I just hope none of the citizens have found out about this."
"I hope Lord Nasher did what I advised." Aribeth turned and led everyone back to the still open portal.
"What did you tell him to do?" Sharwyn asked quietly.
"I asked him if he could order everyone who was present in the building to keep what happened undisclosed to the populace."
"Mm...let's just hope that he did just that or we'll have a lot of trouble on our hands." Caldor muttered.
As soon as the group arrived back in the city, the portal was closed and Desther was dragged to the dungeons of Never Castle kicking and screaming.
Once he was thrown in a cell, Lord Nasher immediately ordered Desther to be interrogated. Caldor gladly offered to do it and after thirty minutes of sound beatings, they had all the information they needed.
Lord Nasher ordered Oleff to administer the cure to the citizens, relieving Aribeth and Fenthick of that duty. Many people arrived on the steps of the Hall en masse calling for guards to be posted to keep order.
Caldor and the rest were allowed to rest in a small common room in the castle.
Fenthick had still refused divine healing when it was offered to him and now sat on one of the sofas in the common room staring at the ground. Aribeth sat at his side with an opened med kit in her lap, attempting to clean up the bruises on his face.
"Fenthick, lift your head and look at me so I can get your eye."
Fenthick sighed and turned his head but kept his eyes on the ground.
"Stop being so grumpy Fenthick." Sharwyn looked down at her lap and smiled.
Caldor's run of the Hold and interrogation of Desther had tired him out almost completely and he was now asleep in Sharwyn's lap.
"Isn't that right darling. He should calm down and relax like you." She ran her fingers through his hair and smirked.
Caldor turned his face from her stomach and glared up at her. "Aye...like she said." He grumbled before falling back to sleep.
Fenthick smiled a little and looked up at them. "I guess you are correct but...I can not help but wonder what will happen once the people find out about Desther's actions. After all, I'm sure someone saw him when we brought him back to the castle and no doubt somebody will eventually slip on what happened in the chamber."
"Bah, you worry too much Fenthick. Even if someone does find out I don't understand why you are so worried about it. It's Desther's hide that will be in trouble not yours." Sharwyn told him as she rang a small bell resting on a nearby table.
"Anyone else want some wine?"
"I'll take some." Came a muffled voice from near Sharwyn's abdomen.
Fenthick snorted and broke out into silent laughter.
Aribeth looked at him curiously, "What's so funny?"
"Him." He pointed to Caldor who sat up and winked.
Sharwyn giggled and stretched, "He is silly isn't he?"
"Yes I am silly." He threw his arm around Sharwyn's shoulders and pulled her close. "What's the plan for the rest of the day hm? We aren't going to sit around here all day are we?"
"Of course not. I guess we could go offer our assistance to the citizens once everyone has received the cure." Aribeth offered. She grabbed Fenthick by the chin and turned his face toward her. "Now will you let me get that eye or not?"
Fenthick smiled and nodded in resignation.
A handmaiden soon appeared then left the room again once she had received their request. Moments later she reappeared with four glasses and a bottle of Elven Wine.
"Ah, the good stuff!" Caldor said excitedly as he helped himself to the wine. He filled two of the glasses and handed one to Sharwyn as he sat back in the sofa.
The bard thanked him and sipped at the wine before speaking again, "I think that would be a splendid idea. The populace would be most grateful for our assistance."
"You sure do use a lot of big words. Gods you are such a noble." Caldor said as he sipped his wine.
Sharwyn glared at him and lightly smacked the back of his neck.
Caldor smirked at her and turned his attention to Fenthick. "I'm glad this is finally over with. Now you two can get back to your wedding and I might just stick around to see that."
"What? Were you... planning to leave Caldor?" Sharwyn questioned.
Caldor noticed the hint of sadness and paused a moment to pick his words carefully. "Well...I was but...you see I had promised my mother and grandfather I would head back to the clan once I was done helping here. Though..." He smiled and took her free hand into his own. "Well since I've met you and all things considered I couldn't just up and leave now could I?"
Sharwyn smiled and her cheeks colored a bit, "No...you couldn't."
"Mum will understand as will my grandfather. I mean...you wouldn't believe how much she has been hounding me over the years."
Caldor straightened up and scrunched up his face and said in a mocking voice. "'Caldor why haven't you found a woman yet? Caldor why aren't you married yet? Caldor when am I going to get some grandchildren?!' I mean goodness. The nagging! She will be delighted when she finds out considering...you will come with me to my clan home one day to meet them right? If it isn't to troublesome that is."
Sharwyn laughed and smiled, "Of course. I would be honored."
Caldor's expression brightened and he hugged her tightly, "That's wonderful to hear love."
Sharwyn giggled and waved him away, "Ah...Caldor show Aribeth and Fenthick what you can do."
He stared at her curiously then smiled, "Alright then."
Caldor stood up and walked over to the stonewall and put his hands on it, "Watch my friends and be amazed!"
Aribeth cocked her head to the side and Fenthick looked at him questioningly. The paladin snickered then climbed up the wall and onto the ceiling.
Once he was on the roof he looked down at the two elves and grinned at their astonished expressions.
"How...how did you do that?" Fenthick gasped out.
"I'm part copper dragon my friend. Ever heard of the spider walk?" Fenthick nodded. "Yes, I inherited that."
Aribeth clapped and smiled, "Isn't that a neat little trick. I'm sure it's very useful, correct?"
"Indeed m'lady." Caldor responded brightly.
Sudden commotion outside alerted everyone in the room and they all started in surprise when the door slammed open and a nervous looking guard poked his head in. "We have a problem."
Everyone stared at him then turned his or her heads quickly when there came a loud thud. Caldor sat up and rubbed the back of his head and grimaced at the others as they stared at him. "Lost my concentration for a moment."
He picked himself up and nodded at the guard in a business like manner.
"Alright then, lead the way."
The group quickly filed out of the room and followed the guard out a side door and into the castle courtyard.
The people had all gathered there armed with torches and were yelling at the guards already standing outside.
"What's going on here?" Caldor questioned a nearby guard.
"Someone leaked information and the people found out about Desther and what his false Helmites had done. They're calling for blood, they want him burned at the stake."
Caldor frowned and sighed, "Why not just hang him, I mean it's much cleaner. Aren't they sick of the smell of burning flesh?"
"When it comes to traitors it doesn't seem like they really give a damn." Sharwyn said.
"I wouldn't care either...well let's just hand him over then. He's going to die either way so let's just assess his crimes and execute him. I would like to be done with this messy business quickly." Caldor said flatly.
Lord Nasher exited the castle and everyone nodded to him respectfully.
"How do you want to handle this m'lord?" Aribeth asked him.
Nasher sighed and scratched at his arm, "Bring Desther out and prepare a burning stake."
Sharwyn winced though Caldor barely batted an eye.
He looked at Sharwyn and shrugged, "I suppose it is a fitting punishment for what he has done."
Sharwyn shivered and looked up at him, "That doesn't mean I'm going to like it."
Desther was soon brought out and was tied to a post with dried timber under it.
The citizens watched silently, a few stepping up to spit on the man. A thin man stepped up in front of Desther and opened a rolled parchment. He took a few minutes to read him the crimes he had commited and were being punished for then stepped back.
"Any last words scum?"
Desther stared at the man then started snickering. Then chuckling. Then full out maniacal laughter.
The citizens began screaming at him and yelling curses. One adolescent came up and threw a bottle of ale at Desther then another threw his torch at the man's feet.
He went up in flame quickly and his laughter soon changed to screams of pain.
Sharwyn averted her eyes and sighed. Caldor pulled her closer to him and rested his arm around her shoulders.
Fenthick looked down at the ground and slumped back against the building walls. Aribeth watched him then placed a hand on his shoulder. He looked up at her and Aribeth offered him a reassuring smile. He smiled back weakly and squeezed her hand.
Desther had stopped screaming a long time ago and his charred corpse dangled loosely from the pole. The people began to murmur amongst themselves. Some even made furtive glances at Fenthick.
".... Getting bored. Let's go back inside...we don't need to see all of this." Caldor told the others as he messed up Fenthick's hair in a playful manner before turning towards the door.
They all nodded and turned to follow him inside when one the citizens yelled, "Hang the traitor Fenthick!"
The elf froze in place. He turned slowly and stared at the crowd. 'No this cannot be! I did nothing wrong.'
Caldor looked back and grimaced. He reached out toward Fenthick and pulled him behind him as the citizens surged forward past Desther's corpse.
The paladin held up a hand and smiled nervously. "You all can't be serious right? He did nothing wrong." He said to the group.
"Horse shit! He was with Desther all the time. They could have planned this whole thing!" One man yelled back at him angrily.
"Indeed! Fenthick was always working with those false helmites! He's a traitor."
Sharwyn shook her head at the people, "Just because he was working with them doesn't mean he was part of the plan to steal the cure and keep the plague going. He wasn't out there giving out those 'blessings' that Desther and the others were. Fenthick knew nothing about Desther's traitorous intent."
"Yes he did! The paladin told him." One of the nurses yelled from the crowd. She tried to hide herself quickly but Caldor caught sight of her.
He frowned and shook his head angrily, "Even though he didn't believe me that doesn't mean he was working with Desther. He only thought he was trying to help the city nothing more. I can't believe that you people are so willing to hang him over something as trivial as a misunderstanding."
The citizens yelled louder and shook their fists at him.
"Silence!" The crowd stopped yelling and stared at the paladin angrily.
"I do not know what the hell is wrong with you but you all better calm down right now. Fenthick did nothing wrong. He may have been a little naïve to what Desther was up to but that doesn't mean you can condemn him to death for it. Haven't we already punished the traitor? Why do innocents have to be killed to sate your bloodlust?"
The citizens spoke quietly among themselves before a man spoke, "He's right! We are done now. The blood has been paid. We need to go home and rebuild the city!"
A few others murmured in agreement and turned away from the crowd.
A loud young man in the front looked around angrily then rushed to the front.
"No! Stop! Because this man was too foolish to see that Desther was a traitor he should be hung for negligence!"
The crowd began yelling again, screaming for Fenthick to be hung. Lord Nasher sighed and signaled for two guards to grab Fenthick.
Caldor pushed the men away and stood in front of Fenthick protectively. "What the hell do you think you're doing? You aren't seriously going to listen to these fool hotheads are you?"
Lord Nasher stared at him sternly, "It is the law. He was dangerously negligent and let a traitor work around him."
Caldor sputtered in disbelief, "You've got to be fuc... look... if he is to be charged with negligence and hung for it you might as well hang yourself. You let him into the city after all...it isn't possible that you didn't interact with Desther and his company frequently. You are the leader of this city are you not? You need to start acting like one. "
Nasher glared at him and stepped forward to grab him by the collar. "Look boy. I don't know who the hell you think you are but this is my city and the law says that he should be hung for his crime."
Caldor grabbed his hand and wrenched it away, staring daggers at the man. "You are pathetic...you are going to hang this man on nothing? Where is the justice in that? You are only doing this to satisfy these bastards. You're too weak to be a leader." He growled.
Nasher gritted his teeth and punched Caldor hard in the face. The paladin fell back and shook it away quickly before rushing towards Nasher with his fist raised. Before he could reach him, five guards grabbed him and pulled him back and held him down.
"Tie him up." Nasher pointed to Fenthick.
"Wait a minute! This is wrong! What are you doing?" Sharwyn yelled at Nasher.
"This is the law! He must be hung!"
"No! He is innocent! I won't let you do this." She moved towards Fenthick but was grabbed and restrained by two of the guards. "Aribeth! Stop this!"
Aribeth stared at them all blankly then looked to Nasher, "Surely there is some mistake. You can't...hang him for that. Maybe imprisonment but not execution."
Nasher turned to her and shook his head. "You know the law as well as I do Aribeth."
"Don't believe that nonsense! That is too stupid to be a law!" Caldor yelled as he tried to loosen himself from the guards.
"He's right, that doesn't make sense at all. He shouldn't be hung for this. The punishment wouldn't be fitting for the crime." Aribeth pleaded.
"He commited no crime! Fenthick is innocent! It won't be an execution it'll be murder!" Caldor yelled.
"Someone shut him up!" Nasher yelled harshly.
"Fu..." One of the guards hit Caldor in the stomach with the butt of his halberd and he kneeled over clutching his stomach. All of the guards surrounded him, holding him in place.
Lord Nasher signaled to the guards holding Fenthick and they tied him up then dragged him over to a tree.
"Surely you'll reconsider my lord!" Fenthick yelled.
"This is wrong.... this isn't right...this..."Aribeth stared at the ground, trying desperately to make sense of everything that was happening.
"Aribeth! Don't just sit there damn it! Do something." Sharwyn and Caldor yelled at her.
"But...I don't..."
The guards threw a noose around a thick limb of one of the trees in the courtyard and put it around Fenthick's neck. They made him stand on a crate and tightened the rope around a tree. He struggled trying to free himself desperately but the guards had tied him up well and he couldn't move much without ending up hanging himself.
The crowd had silenced and watched the spectacle with bated breath. A few of the people tried to struggle forward, "This is wrong! You can't do this!" The guards held them back despite their best efforts to get past them.
Nasher stared up at Fenthick and sighed. The elf looked at him pleadingly but the man shook his head, "Fenthick Moss, you have been charged with criminal negligence and shall be hung until you are dead."
"Horse shit! You murderer! You will rot in the hells if you do this." Caldor yelled at him resulting in another blow to the abdomen.
Aribeth watched in horror as Nasher gave the signal and the wooden crate was kicked out from under Fenthick.
Most of the members of the crowd yelled excitedly. The others stared sadly and looked to Aribeth pityingly. Fenthick kicked against the tree trying to loosen himself but to no avail.
Caldor struggled harder against the guards but more arrived to hold him down. "NO! You...must stop...this! Errgh!" Despite his best efforts he couldn't wiggle free and watched helplessly as Fenthick's struggling form weakened and he stopped moving altogether.
Aribeth gawked at his motionless form in shock and sank to the ground, tears streamed down her cheeks as she stared at Fenthick's corpse. She covered her face and doubled over, crying softly.
Sharwyn watched her and stared down at the ground, fighting back the tears. It was heartbreaking to see her like that. She looked up at Caldor who stared at Fenthick's corpse in horror.
His face fell and he ground his teeth together and squeezed his eyes shut firmly. With a sudden burst of strength he dispelled the guards holding him down and stared at Lord Nasher angrily. He unsheathed his sword and held it level to the ground.
"I should kill you...for what you have done." He said. His voice was shaking and the sword trembled in his grasp.
Nasher watched him and signaled to the guards to grab him. Caldor didn't fight them as they took his sword and chained his hands behind his back.
"I'm charging you with disorderly conduct. You won't be locked up long. Just for a couple hours until you calm down." Nasher turned stiffly and walked back into castle.
The guards holding Caldor followed him soon after.
Sharwyn shook off the guards holding her and ran to follow them into the castle. The guards standing by the door turned her away and she reluctantly walked back to Aribeth's side and knelt down next to her.
Aribeth was still bent over and barely noticed as Sharwyn rested a reassuring hand on her back. "I'm so sorry...."
The elf glanced at Sharwyn then sat up and hugged her tightly.
The crowd lingered a short while longer then eventually dispersed. A few of them lingered and watched Aribeth silently. They bowed their heads in shame and turned away.
"How could we allow this to happen?" An adolescent girl whispered sadly.
"There wasn't much we could do, we were too few." Her father said to her as he placed a hand on her shoulder. "We should go home now...we can do nothing for her."
Sharwyn whispered soothing words to Aribeth but the elf barely heard her. Her shoulders shook gently as she tried to get herself under control.
"Just let it all out. It is not healthy to hold it all in." Sharwyn told her. Aribeth didn't answer. She instead stared at the ground quietly. 'Why...'
The four guards led Caldor down into the dungeons and opened the gate leading into one of the cells closest to the dungeon entrance.
"Sorry about this Sir Erion. Just doing our jobs." One of the guards told him as he unchained the paladin and pushed him into the cell.
Caldor snorted at him and sat down on the dingy cot in the far corner of the cell. The guard closed and locked the gate then headed back up to the castle followed by two of his fellows. The third stayed back to guard him.
Caldor turned way from the gate and stared at the crumbling stonewall. "I can't believe it...how could this have happened?" He asked no one in particular.
He turned and glared at the back of the guard, "How could such an injustice be done in a city with Tyr as the patron deity? Answer me!"
The guard turned and stared at him curiously.
Caldor jumped up and slammed into the gate, startling the guard and making him fall backward.
"Don't stare at me as if I'm stupid. Answer the damn question!"
"I...I don't know. I was just following orders."
Caldor glared at the man, "So just because you were told something, despite the fact that you might be against it, you would do it anyway just to avoid getting into trouble."
"I was doing what my Lord ordered me to do." The man said calmly as he righted himself.
Caldor turned away from the guard and sat back down on the cot. "You are nothing but a coward and a fool."
The guard frowned, "Should I have stopped it and been accused of a being a traitor along with Fenthick?"
"Yes. Then you wouldn't be a murderer." Caldor replied quietly.
"But..."
"No excuses! Did you not see the citizens that tried to stop the 'execution' but couldn't due to your fellows. Were they accused of being traitors when they tried to help Fenthick? No they were " Caldor lay down on the cot, ending the conversation.
The guard watched him from the corners of his eyes. His vision switched to the ground and he sighed. "He's right." He whispered to himself.
To Caldor it didn't seem like it had been three hours since he had lied down on the cot.
"Up paladin. You may leave now." The guard from before had opened the gate and waited for him to exit. He got up and walked out of the cell and was escorted out of the dungeons. On the way out, the group passed by a broad opening, which led to a medium sized atrium. Caldor noticed Nasher in the room and stopped.
Lord Nasher looked up from the papers he was reading and met Caldor's steely gaze.
"Come on now." The guard prodded Caldor in the back with his halberd and the paladin began moving again. "I want to go back to the courtyard." Caldor said quietly.
"We will take you there but you may not enter the castle again so you will have to leave through the gate. It will lead you back to the city core."
The group turned and soon came upon the entrance to the courtyard. The guard opened the door for Caldor then closed it behind him once he was outside.
Caldor heard the shifting of metal behind him, meaning they had bolted the door.
He stared ahead at the two women sitting in the middle of the courtyard. 'I didn't think they would still be here...'
Caldor started walking toward them.
Sharwyn heard the soft crunching of gravel and looked up solemnly. She watched Caldor walking towards them and offered him a weak smile.
He sighed then turned his attention to the elf sitting next to her. Aribeth had finally calmed down he noticed. Caldor kneeled down next to her and wrapped his arms around her.
"Aribeth...amin hiraetha... amin ikotane hiraetha. I tried..."
"I know... diola lle ai'men." Aribeth whispered as she embraced him.
He looked up at Fenthick's body then back at Aribeth. "He deserves a proper burial."
Caldor released her and stood up. He untied the noose and lowered the body to the ground. Caldor tossed the rope away and picked the body up and started walking toward the courtyard exit.
Sharwyn stood and helped Aribeth to her feet then both women followed the paladin out into the city. They moved through the crowds quickly to keep up with Caldor's rapid pace. Sharwyn noticed the minute glances that the citizens were giving them as they walked past. A few subtle glares were directed at Caldor, but they were few and far between.
Caldor walked through the city as if no one else was there. In his mind, no one else existed. Such a large amount of stupidity in one place seemed unfeasible to him. Men and women dodged out of the way as he walked through them. Yelled curses and complaints flew over him like the wind. He heeded nothing.
The trio was now in the Beggar's Nest. Caldor had stopped in front of a small ramshackle building that was in the process of repair. An aging sign hung above the door marking this place as the workshop of a coffin maker. He stared down at Fenthick's still face thoughtfully then tapped the door with his foot.
After a few minutes a middle aged man appeared at the door and looked at the body then up at Caldor's face.
"Need a coffin for poor Fenthick I see." The man opened the door wide and beckoned them inside. The trio followed him in and Sharwyn closed the door.
"Pick whichever one you want. Free of charge. It is the least I could do. He saved my wife and son after all." The man nodded and waved his hand over the coffins that stood upright against the walls.
Caldor turned to Aribeth and nodded to the coffins. "Choose one m'lady."
Aribeth stepped forward and walked along the walls quietly, her fingers brushing over the polished lids. She stopped at a polished oak coffin and looked at Caldor. "This one."
"Alright, I will have my son help me get that onto a cart. Please bring it back when you are done." The man said as he nudged the young man sitting behind the counter. Caldor nodded at the man and signaled Sharwyn and Aribeth to follow them outside.
They waited for a few minutes before the man and his son came around with the coffin on an old cart.
"Thank you for this." Aribeth said.
"As I said before ma'am. It is the least that I could do." He bowed before them and led his son back into the workshop.
Caldor stepped onto the cart and slid the lid off of the coffin. Aribeth and Sharwyn climbed up with him and helped to lay Fenthick inside of it.
All three of them stared at him a moment with nothing said between them. Aribeth took an amulet from around her neck and placed it on Fenthick's chest.
"I hope he has found peace within the shelter of Tyr..."
Caldor bowed his head and grasped Sharwyn's hand. She squeezed it in return then climbed off the cart. Aribeth followed, as did Caldor once he replaced the lid.
He wheeled the cart to a building not too far away from the coffin workshop. It was in slightly better shape than the last one and was the home of a tombstone mason. Caldor knocked on the door and waited patiently for the owner to open the door.
A hairy, grouchy looking man appeared and glared at Caldor, "What do you want paladin?"
"What do you think I want?" He growled at the man.
The mason looked over at Aribeth then at the cart and snorted. "I suppose you want a tombstone eh? For yer precious traitor elf friend eh? Fine! But it'll cost ya double since it's for a traitor."
Caldor growled at the man as he turned and went back into his workshop. The mason heaved a thick granite slab up onto his worktable and began chipping at it.
Caldor glared at the man as he walked into the building. He noticed the slight smirk on the man's face and bristled. "You better not be putting anything on there with the word traitor in it."
"Oh no m'lord!" The man said in a mocking tone, "I would never do such a thing. How about you shove off eh? You're lucky I'm even doing this for you."
Before Sharwyn could stop him, he shoved the man hard into a pile of crates and tickled the man's throat with the tip of his sword when he tried to get up again. "Do not move scum or so help me I'll kill you where you sit." The man snarled at him but did not move.
"Sharwyn, make sure he doesn't budge." Caldor told her as turned to the worktable. The words, "Here lies the dirty trait..." were etched into the stone. He pushed it off the table and picked up another one off the ground and began working on it.
"I might not be a mason but I'll be damned before I let him do it." Caldor grumbled as he worked. Aribeth walked up to him and watched as he carved a short message into the stone.
She silently read the words that began to form on the tombstone, "Here lies Fenthick Moss. A devout and good man that did everything within his power for the greater good."
Caldor hesitated.
"What is wrong?" Aribeth asked quietly.
"Nothing." He whispered then continued working. "Aa'menle fea esta e'seere."
"May thy spirit rest in peace..." Aribeth looked up at Caldor and smiled at him. "Thank for all that you have done Caldor."
He looked at her then down at the stone and began etching the symbol of Tyr over the message, "It is the least I could do." He replied quietly. 'Yes...the least I could do after I failed him.'
Caldor dusted off the tombstone and inspected it before picking it up. "It's not the best of work but I think it will mean more since it has been done by a friend." He walked towards the door and the women followed him.
"Hey!" Caldor turned and stared at the man as he picked himself up.
"I want compensation!"
"You didn't do anything fool." Sharwyn told him icily.
"Pay me for the use of my tools and for that wasted slab of granite!" The man yelled angrily.
Caldor dug into his purse and flicked a gold coin at the man hitting him hard in the forehead. The man yelped and fell over backward again into the pile of crates.
The mason grumbled as he picked himself up indignantly, the soft laughter of two women rang in his ears.
Once again they moved through the city, the Great Graveyard being their destination this time.
Many of the peasants saw them and bowed their heads respectfully. Some even followed wishing to pay their respects, if they were allowed to. They did not know how the paladin would react to them but followed anyway.
The large oak gate was slightly ajar and the trio noticed others were inside. "Over there under that silver maple on top of the hill. That would be an ideal spot, no?" Sharwyn asked.
Aribeth looked the area over and nodded, "I think Fenthick would like that." She looked up at Caldor who simply nodded.
He wheeled the cart over to where the grave keeper's hut was and snatched one of the shovels leaning against the wall.
They continued making their way up the hill and stopped under the tree. Caldor took the shovel and glanced at Aribeth before he began digging the grave.
The two women watched him solemnly as he dug and were slightly stunned when a man ran up to them yelling. "Hey you! What are you doing wit ma shovel? Ya didn't ask fer ma permission to use it or start diggin' where ya are now!"
Caldor whirled on the man and picked him up by the back of his shirt hissing into his ear, "Back off before I shove this shovel so far up your ass that you spit splinters."
The man nodded dumbly at him and held up a hand in defense, "Alright, alright! I see yer a mite touchy today so I'll leave you folks alone. Now if'n you just put me down I'll be on my way."
Caldor dropped the man and went back to digging the grave.
"Caldor...do you want any help?" Sharwyn asked.
"No...I feel responsible for not stopping them. I must do this." He said quietly.
"It was not your fault."
He looked up at her and shook his head, "I could have stopped them. But I did not...now he is dead. I failed to protect him." He stared into the hole; seemingly searching for something, and then continued digging again.
Sharwyn did not press him further and watched him thoughtfully. 'We'll definitely have to talk later today.'
Caldor continued his work steadily, managing to get a 5-inch deep outline of the grave. He stopped to look it over quickly before continuing.
Aribeth and Sharwyn stood to the side quietly and watched him.
"He seems very determined to do this alone." Aribeth whispered.
Sharwyn nodded and sighed, "I do not know why he feels the need to punish himself. I wish he would let me help him. It's funny... no matter how much he says he loves me and accepts it when I tell him...he just won't let me love him. You know what I mean?"
Aribeth quirked an eyebrow at her, "I...suppose. Maybe after all of this is over you can talk to him. I think you would have a better chance at getting him to converse if you have him alone and pinned down."
Sharwyn smiled and nodded, "Aye...that sounds like an idea." A soft rustling behind them made Sharwyn look back curiously.
A small group of people looked at her sheepishly. A man in the front nodded toward the grave and gazed at her hopefully. "Would you...allow us to help?"
"You will have to ask Caldor." She said quietly and turned to look at the paladin.
Caldor stopped digging and stuck the shovel into the ground. He leaned on it heavily and looked back at the crowd.
"Please...we would like to help bury him. We feel terrible about what happened and just wish to pay our final respects."
Caldor didn't move and studied them closely. They were sincere he noted. Hopeful too.
He sighed and allowed a small smile to cross his features. "It seems that my faith in this city's people has not been completely destroyed."
The crowd brightened. "So you will let us help?"
Caldor nodded and picked the shovel up again. The men in the crowd surged forward with shovels and started digging inside the graves outline.
The women and small children were carrying small bundles of flowers and sat them down in a pile under the tree.
With the added help, the grave was soon dug and the men crowded around the coffin. Ropes had been tied to the handles and they were getting ready to lower it into the hole. Within minutes the coffin was in the grave and the crowd stood around it, gazing at the polished oak gloomily. The children tossed their flower bundles on top.
"Fenthick...was a good man. Very kind and giving... dedicated to helping anyone that needed aid. It is sad that he died in such a fashion." A man said quietly.
A low 'aye' moved through the crowd as the people nodded their heads.
"I know he is watching over us now. Hopefully he holds no ill will against us." A woman whispered as she looked up into the sky.
"He would not. I doubt he is even angry at the people who wanted him hung." Caldor smiled and looked up at the people. "It makes my heart happy to know that there are a few who are remorseful. I thank you." He looked to Aribeth.
"Yes...thank you for your kindness. It is greatly appreciated." She said quietly.
"You are very welcome Lady Aribeth." The man sighed and picked up his shovel.
Dirt was quickly thrown on top of the casket and the tombstone was righted at the head of the grave. The rest of the flowers were laid on top of the grave and propped up against the tombstone.
The people said their fair wells to Aribeth and apologized for her loss before going back to their homes.
Caldor looked up at the sky and watched the dark grey rain clouds move overhead.
"Hmm...it's going to rain again."
He looked to the two women and sighed, "Let's get you home m'lady."
Aribeth waved him away. "No...I'll be fine. You two go on."
Sharwyn clutched Aribeth's arm, "At least allow me to walk you home. Caldor, go on back to the inn and rest a bit. You look dreadful."
Caldor scratched the back of his head absentmindedly, "Do I look that bad? Very well...I'll go on then." He kissed Sharwyn softly on the lips then hugged Aribeth before grabbing the cart and walking off toward the gate.
Sharwyn stared at him as he left then turned to Aribeth. "Shall we go m'lady?"
Aribeth gazed at the grave sadly and looked at Sharwyn. "Yes...let's go.